Racing: 'Unfit' Piggott fined

LESTER PIGGOTT'S career-long disregard for authority brought him a pounds 150 fine at Epsom yesterday after he failed to turn out for his first booked ride, even though he was at the course, writes John Cobb.

Piggott, 58, did not present himself to ride Don't Look Now in the opening race and the stewards were not satisfied with his explanation.

Robert Stopford, the stewards' secretary, said: 'He (Piggott) was on the course, but had a little shunt in the town and as a result had a bandage between his fingers on the web of his left hand.

'If a jockey is unfit he must tell the clerk of the scales and medical officer. But Lester took a unilateral decision and left a message with his valet.'

Simon Whitworth took over on Don't Look Now, who finished third to Don Alvaro. Piggott recovered well enough to ride White Lady, second in the next race.

On Friday he picked up a two-day ban at Baden-Baden for causing interference and on Sunday he rode in Stockholm, where failure to fulfil an engagement last month brought a pounds 260 fine.